The star triathlete from Bloemfontein, Jayme-Sue Vermaas, signed off her collegiate career on a high note on the weekend during the National collegiate Championships in Tempe, Arizona.
Vermaas finished the championship in second overall and helped her team, the Drury University Panthers, to finish fourth overall.
The old girl from C&N Sekondêre Meisieskool Oranje, who is a senior medical student at Drury, completed the race in a time of 1:07:08. She completed the 750m swim in 10:45 minutes, the 20km bike ride in 35:38 minutes and the 5km run in 19:13 minutes. Julia Kekkonon of Wingate University was the overall winner in 1:06:54, while Shannon Feran of Colorado Mesa University completed the podium in a time of 1:07:20.
Vermaas’ coach at the Springfield-based university in Missouri, David Winton, praised her for her guts and determination, especially with all the challenges she faced during her time in the USA.
“When I watched you cross the finish line as National Champion Runner-Up, I was overjoyed because we both know it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows during this journey,” said Winton.
“I am in awe of your determination to get this done. You had a big dream and it shaped you into the person you are today. I am confident that you can reflect knowing you gave everything and became the best version of yourself.
“After all, it’s not about outcome or what you receive – it’s who you become in the process that matters most. Words cannot express how proud I am of you or how much I will miss you.”
The All-American triathlete, Vermaas, finished her degree in Neuro Science at Drury and has applied to study Radiography in Diagnostics at the Central University of Technology, Free State. She will still be competing as she continues the dream of representing South Africa at the Commonwealth and Olympic Games. – MORGAN PIEK
